The CAPS curriculum, as determined by the Western Cape Education Department, is followed. We expect all our learners to always strive to be the best that they can be, and not to compare them to their peers (although some healthy competition between peers can serve as a motivation to strive for even better results!).

We are all unique with different abilities and personalities and should therefore focus on our own strengths and abilities. Our educators are passionate about what they do and will help your child to become a valuable asset to society, with proper guidance and mentorship.

English and Mathematics are the core learning areas at our school, and we believe in building on these pillars from the very start of your child’s school career, starting from Grade 1. The subjects being offered at our school are as follows:

Foundation Phase (Grades 1 – 3)

Here the core focus is on Numeracy, Literacy & Life Skills in order to build a solid foundation in the early years:

  • English Home Language
  • Afrikaans is gradually introduced as the 1st Additional Language
  • Mathematics
  • Life Skills
  • Learners are also given the opportunity to express their creative talents; apart from art being done at school, a quarterly visit to the Tygerberg Art Centre is a highlight on our calendar, as our learners have fun while creating beautiful pieces of artwork. We have produced some real little “Picasso’s” at the Eistedfod and are very proud of our learners.

Parents are encouraged to spend a specific time with their children for reading, and to motivate them to read as much as possible. This will ensure that learners are competent in the English language from an early age. Regular trips to the library is a fun activity while creating special memories with your child.

Intermediate Phase (Grades 4 – 6)

  • English Home Language
  • Afrikaans 1st Additional Language
  • Mathematics
  • Social Sciences (History & Geography)
  • Natural Sciences and Technology
  • Life Skills (Creative Arts, Physical Education, Personal & Social Development)
  • Learners are also given the opportunity to express their creative talents; apart from art done at school, a quarterly visit to the Tygerberg Art Centre is a highlight on our calendar, as our learners have fun while creating beautiful pieces of artwork.

Senior Phase (Grades 7 – 9)

During this phase of their academic career learners normally discover their academic strengths and interests and often decide what it is they would like to study after school. Learners in this Phase are transitioning into adulthood and although this can be a challenging time as they encounter many changes, it is also a time when their self-confidence, sense of responsibility and self-esteem becomes more prominent. Our educators are sensitive to the needs of learners and will strive to help and support them as much as possible during this time.

Subjects taken during this Phase are as follows:

  • English Home Language
  • Afrikaans 1st Additional Language
  • Mathematics
  • Social Sciences (History & Geography)
  • Natural Sciences and Technology
  • Creative Arts
  • EMS (Economic & Management Sciences)
  • Life Orientation (involving Physical Education & Guidance)

FET Phase (Grades 10 – 12)

While learners in this Phase are encouraged to focus even more on their academics to the best of their ability to ensure that they can be successful at the end of their matric year, it is also important that they develop into well-rounded young adults. We live in a very competitive and demanding world where high moral standards and respect towards others will go a long way in ensuring success.

Towards the end of their Grade 9 year, learners choose subjects depending on the career path they wish to follow and according to their strengths / abilities.

There are four compulsory subjects:

  • English Home Language
  • Afrikaans 1st Additional Language *
  • Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
  • Life Orientation (involving Physical Education & Guidance)

An additional three subjects must be selected. We have three different directions from which to choose:

  • Humanities - this is Geography and History, taken with an extra subject either from Business Studies or Life Science.
  • Commerce - this is Accounting and Business Studies, taken with an extra subject. Accounting can be taken with Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy.
  • Sciences - this is Physical Science and Life Science and may only be taken with Geography (Geography is also a Science). Mathematics in this field is compulsory and learners must have an average of over 50% at the end of Grade 9 and pass a baseline test to be able to take Mathematics in this phase.

Note: Immigrant learners, i.e. learners who entered into the country in Grade 7 and later, who do not take Afrikaans, must take an extra subject from the choices above. These learners will be advised depending on their subject choice.

Our learners write the NSC exams at the end of their matric year.

A brief overview of each subject is as follows (as per Dept of Education CAPS documents):

Life Orientation is central to the holistic development of learners. It addresses skills, knowledge and values for the personal, social, intellectual, emotional and physical growth of learners, and is concerned with the way in which these facets are interrelated. Life Orientation guides and prepares learners for life and its possibilities and equips them for meaningful and successful living in a rapidly changing and transforming society. The focus of Life Orientation is the development of self-in-society. It promotes self-motivation and teaches learners how to apply goal-setting, problem-solving and decision-making strategies. These serve to facilitate individual growth as part of an effort to create a democratic society, a productive economy and an improved quality of life. Learners are guided to develop their full potential and are provided with opportunities to make informed choices regarding personal and environmental health, study opportunities and future careers. Life Orientation helps learners to develop beneficial social interactions, such as respecting others’ rights and values and promotes lifelong participation in recreation and physical activity.

The study of history enables us to understand how past human action affects the present and influences our future, and it allows us to evaluate these effects. So, history is about learning how to think about the past, which affects the present, in a disciplined way. History is a process of enquiry. Therefore, it is about asking questions of the past: What happened? When did it happen? Why did it happen then? What were the short-term and long-term results? It involves thinking critically about the stories people tell us about the past, as well as the stories that we tell ourselves.

Geography is the study of human and physical environments. It is a subject that combines topics related to physical and human processes over space and time. With the use of Geography, we can better understand our complex world. There are many branches of study in Geography. For example, in Physical Geography, we examine natural processes and features, including the atmosphere, landforms and ecosystems. In Human Geography, we investigate the activities and impact of people on Earth. The concept that unifies Geography is space. All geographical phenomena have a spatial dimension and operate in a continuously changing environment.

The purpose of Physical Sciences is to make learners aware of their environment and to equip learners with investigating skills relating to physical and chemical phenomena, for example, lightning and solubility. Physical Sciences prepares learners for future learning, specialist learning, employment, citizenship, holistic development, socio-economic development, and environmental management. Learners choosing Physical Sciences as a subject in Grades 10-12 also need to take Mathematics and need to be prepared to work very hard to be successful in this field. If at any time a learner changes from Mathematics to Math Literacy will also need to drop Physical Science.

‘Life Sciences’ is the scientific study of living things from molecular level to their interactions with one another and their environments. It includes the study of ecological systems, plant and animal physiology and morphology. The human body is also studied during this Phase. The three main reasons for taking Life Sciences are:

  • to provide useful knowledge and skills that are needed in everyday life
  • to expose learners to the scope of biological studies to stimulate interest in and create awareness of possible specialisations; and
  • to provide a sufficient background for further studies in one or more of the biological sub-disciplines.

Mathematics is a language that makes use of symbols and notations for describing numerical, geometric and graphical relationships. It helps to develop mental processes that enhance logical and critical thinking, accuracy and problem solving that will contribute in decision-making. Mathematical problem solving enables us to understand the world (physical, social and economic) around us, and, most of all, to teach us to think creatively. Mathematics needs to be taken when choosing Physical Science as a subject. An average of above 50% is required in Grade 9 in order to continue Mathematics in Grades 10-12.

Mathematical Literacy teaches learners practical math skills which can be applied to everyday situations. It also assists you in understanding and being able to manage your everyday financial responsibilities such as bank statements, budgeting, measuring of areas, etc. It is an entirely different subject to Mathematics.

Accounting requires lots of practice to ensure success, as well as the ability to reason things out by applying accounting principles and laws. It focuses on measuring performance and processing and communicating financial information, and involves being able to draw up budgets, financial statements, cash books, monthly / quarterly reports, etc. The discipline ensures that principles such as ethical behaviour, transparency and accountability are adhered to. This subject is a good choice if a learner plans to study Business management & Administration.

This subject deals with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that are critical for informed, productive, ethical and responsible participation in the formal and informal economic sectors. The subject involves business principles, theory and practice that underpin the development of entrepreneurial initiatives, sustainable enterprises and economic growth. Business Studies will ensure that learners:

  • acquire and apply essential business knowledge, skills and principles to productively and profitably conduct business in ever-changing business environments;
  • create business opportunities, creatively solve problems and take risks, respecting the rights of others and environmental sustainability;
  •  apply basic leadership and management skills and principles while working with others to accomplish business goals;
  • are motivated, self-directed, reflective lifelong learners who responsibly manage themselves and their activities while working towards business goals;
  • are committed to developing themselves and others through business opportunities and ventures;
  • are able to secure formal employment, and are in a position to pursue sustainable entrepreneurial and self-employment career pathways.

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